Karliene - For The Fallen

For The Fallen by Laurence Binyon 1914
For an amazing WW1 experience, check out Peter Jackson's documentary 'They Shall Not Grow Old'

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'For The Fallen' by Laurence Binyon
Narration, music and video by Karliene Reynolds

For The Fallen

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
England mourns for her dead across the sea.
Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
Fallen in the cause of the free.

Solemn the drums thrill; Death august and royal
Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres,
There is music in the midst of desolation
And a glory that shines upon our tears.

They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted;
They fell with their faces to the foe.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
They sleep beyond England's foam.

But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
As the stars are known to the Night;

As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain;
As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
To the end, to the end, they remain.

[TheIfifi]

". . . I must not allow myself to dwell on the personal, but I do not want to die. Not that I mind it for myself. If it be that I am to go, I am ready. But the thought that I may never see you or our darling baby again turns my bowels to water...My one consolation is the happiness that has been ours. Also my conscience is clear that I have always tried to make life a joy for you. I know at least that if I go you will not want. That is something. But it is the thought that we may be cut off from each other which is so terrible and that our Babe may grow up without my knowing her and without her knowing me. It is difficult to face. And I know your life without me would be a dull blank. Yet you must never let it become wholly so. For to you will be left the greatest charge in all the world; the upbringing of our baby. God bless that child, she is the hope of life to me. My darling, au revoir. It may well be that you will only have to read these lines as ones of passing interest. On the other hand, they may well be my last message to you. If they are, know through all your life that I loved you and baby with all my heart and soul, that you two sweet things were just all the world to me..
I pray God I may do my duty, for I know, whatever that may entail, you would not have it otherwise."
- Capt. Charlie May. 22nd Battalion of the Manchester Regiment. 1888-1916

[dennisquaid]

"how many wasted lives
How many dreams did fade away


Broken promises
They won't be coming home


Oh mothers wipe your tears
Your sons will rest a million years


Found their peace at last
As foe turned to friend
And forgive"


-Sabaton

[denisecampbell]

Thank You for this Karliene. A beautiful Tribute to all who didn’t come home. Including four of my Cousins, three at Vimy Ridge, & a Great Uncle who sadly made it through Vimy, Passchendale & The Somme, but couldn’t defeat The Spanish Flu that ripped through the Troop Ship bringing him back home to Canada. 😢. As I told my Sister, I can’t even begin to imagine the pain our Great Grandparents went through when that Telegram arrived.

There they were, happy he was coming home at last. I’m sure my Great Grandma was busy making all his Favourite Things he loved to eat & Great Grandpa thrilled he’d be there to help w/the Farm again & then.... 😔. We also lost Family in WW II, but not in Battle. My Uncle/Dad’s Brother’s Regiment were being shown how to deal w/this one type of Mortar. Tragically, the one my Uncle Les was dealing was a live round that had slipped through the checks & blew up in his face. 😔

Between me being one of the lucky ones of my Generation, I grew up knowing my WWII Veteran Relatives & sadly, they’re now all gone. I’m beyond grateful for all they taught me & not only will I never forget them, but when I can, also pass on what they’ve taught me. As you said at the end of the video : They are NOT forgotten.

Thank you again for this beautiful tribute.

[lyrina]

Possibly because I was raised in a military family and was brought up with patriotism, I am overwhelmed in this tribute to all the fallen. Even if others of the opposing side committed terrible deeds during the War, they were still our brothers. We all fight for our beliefs and to protect our people. May these strong men find the peace they could not on Earth.

[rongsenakiliolusang]

"When you go home, tell them of us, tell them For your tomorrow, we give ourselves today" - A British Soldier (WW2)

[louplayssongs]

World War 1 is a conflict that seems to be mostly forgotten about these days, so I'm thrilled you decided to upload this. I've been meaning to check out that Peter Jackson documentary as well, I can't wait to see it!

[gerrycampbell-greer]

I feel both pride and sadness for all those fought on my behalf

[Chrisiant]

as the daughter of a combat veteran, thank you. My father came back from Vietnam, but he was changed forever. Thank you.

[wreng]

As a decedent of Soilders of at leasr four generations I thank you for this.

[oolooo]

All in all, a tragic loss, Peace in Europe but at what cost .

A generation lost, we are forever in debt .

A century hence, lest we forget .

[hauntedhunter]

Karliene-- as I told ya in the comments for "Boudica", high honors ta ye for raising that great paean to our ancestress the great Celtic warrior queen. A great warrior she was & you are a bard of loveliness, passion & skill.

Thanks from a warrior's heart. I wish you & yours love, peace, health joy& strength.
May ya walk with the Creator.

[seannaylor]

Today, we remember that 104 years ago, the so called "War to End all Wars" ended today at 11:00am thanks all these wonderful men. While we are happy and thankful that these wonderful people have fought for our freedom just like in the ongoing wars that were to follow, we must not and should not forget those who did not come home.

I might be 26 years old, but I do know that some of these soldiers were merely teenage boys, some as young as 14 or 15. They saw more than what any other teenage boy should have to deal with. But some of these boys died as well. As I said we should not and must not forget those who died for us. Whilst others had come back to England, settle down, had families and moved on with their lives, there are others that are long since gone and only recalled through old recordings or grainy black and white photographs. And so, I will take my hat off and say thank you to all those men and women who fought for us, not just in the Great War, but World War II and the wars that followed afterwards. We all know that a true soldier fights not because he hates what's in front of him but because he loves what is behind him.

[Pembroke]

Well said lass, your family would be proud! Karliene, every year my family lights a candle for those who didn't come home, thank you for sharing.

[TR-Graybles]

_When you go home. tell them of us and say:_
_"For your tomorrow, we gave our today"._
~John Maxwell Edmonds, 1918

[krmztuborgselim]

My great great grandfather died in this war he will always be remembered

[fanicakibner]

Thank you from all of us who died fighting for freedom in World War I. That life was long ago and I do not remember all. I was a British soldier fighting for freedom in the jungle in Africa.

[randomlyentertaining]

Rest In Peace
Sergeant Henry Nicholas John Gunther
June 6, 1895 - November 11, 1918, 10:59 AM

[samanthajasper]

So Beautiful God bless our veterans and those who die to keep our Country free

[ricardowilliams]

Beautiful. Such a beautiful and wonderful homage to the memories and sacrifices of all these men.

[snagglejag]

I have been a student of the Great War for over 30 years, and something about the futility and gallantry of it strikes me to my soul.I was deeply moved by "They Shall Not Grow Old, " and I am deeply moved again. May we as a species someday learn that war is not the answer.